Late spurt sparks Lady Bears past Lady Eagles in CIAA semifinals

Late spurt sparks Lady Bears past Lady Eagles in CIAA semifinals

March 3, 2006

CHARLOTTE – CIAA player of the year Nastassia Boucicault almost recorded a triple-double as Shaw pulled away from North Carolina Central in the closing minutes 61-53 Friday in the CIAA women’s semifinals at Bobcats Arena. The Bears, winners of 75 straight CIAA games, face Johnson C. Smith Saturday at 9 p.m. in an attempt to win their fourth straight league crown.

Boucicault was three steals shy from a triple-double. She scored 15 points, dished out 10 assists, recorded 7 steals and added 4 rebounds while directing the Bears’ offense. Chanae Early added 12 points and Leslee Anderson scored 10 points.

Boucicault made two free throws to tie the score at 47-47 with 6:45 remaining. The Bears (25-4 overall) then went on a 14-6 run to close the game. Defense keyed the Bears as they tallied 19 steals and forced 27 turnovers.

Cassie King, an All-CIAA performer, led North Carolina Central with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Karla Gamble added 11 points for the Eagles, who dropped to 22-6 overall.

The Eagles, second in the Western Division, threatened to snap Shaw’s league streak before the Bears’ late spurt. The game featured seven ties and 13 lead changes, and the halftime score was deadlocked at 25-25.

King led the Eagles with seven points and five rebounds in the first half, and Shante’ Collins and Tonia Roundtree both added four points. Anderson led the Bears with six points, and Boucicault added five points, six assists and four steals. Early chipped in five points.

The Bears, first in the Eastern Division, held a slight 21-20 rebounding edge in the first half, but the Eagles converted more second-chance points (11-4). The slow tempo favored the Eagles as the high-flying Bears scored two fast break points while NCCU scored four points.